Paper fastener



' Nov. 21, 1933. c. l. WAGNER 1,936,144

PAPER FASTENER Filed May 23, 1933 Z 5 INVENTOR.

W QL i144 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to an improved paper fastener of the type in which two prongs pierce a pack of sheets and are then bent down against the pack to hold the sheets together. Releas- 6 able means are desirable to hold the prongs in bent-down position, to guard the prongs so as to avoid their ends or sides catching on other papers in filing work, to guard the fingers in such work, and to give a better appearance to the fastened paper pack.

According to the principal features of this invention I provide improved structure for engaging the prongs as they are bent down against the top of the pack of sheets, for carrying the prongs into fastening position, for engaging the bent part of the prongs to cover and guard them, and finally to fasten the parts together with good appearance. Other features will appear in the detailed description of the preferred form $3 of the invention and be pointed out in the claims.

Reien'ing to the drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of the preferred form of fastener with parts ready to be assembled to bind a pack of sheets, the latter being indicated in amerely conventional manner;

Fig. 2 is a like view with the parts further along in their assembled relation;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional viewof the pack and side elevation of the fastener, indicating progress 80 from Fig. 2 of assembling the parts Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 with the fastener parts completely assembled;

Fig.5isacross-sectlon on5--5ofFig.4on a larger scale; 1

85 6 is a longitudinal cross-section like Fig.

Fig. '7 is a plan-view of a modified form of construction.

Referring to Fig. 1, the improved fastener in 40 its preferred form comprises three parts. Part 1 may be of the usual constructional a paper fastener having a flat back plate to underlie the pack of paper a and two integral flat metal prongs 2 and 3 adapted to pierce the pack and be bent down flat against the top of the pack of paper. My invention relates more particularly to'the other two parts 4 and 5 constructed for cooperation with part 1.

Part 4 acts as a compressor plate. Its crosssectional form, except at the ends, is shown in Fig. 5. The grooves 6 (one along each edge of part 4) are open ended. At each end a short tab 7 is bent downwardly (either .at a right angle or slightly more than a right angle) and is integral with part 4. The longitudinal central portion of part 4 is elevated slightly above the opening 9, best seen in Fig. 1. This opening 1 .makes a slot to receive the flat prong 3 with which it. is shown in line, ready for assembly, in that figure.

The part 10 is a slide, the cross-sectional form of which is seen in Fig. 5, the top plan in Fig. l, and the side plan in Figs. 3 and 4. The bottom portion of the slide has a bump 11 to make a pressure contact with the paper, see Fig. 4. The bottom portion of slide 10 underlies the compressor plate 4; its side portions extend upwardly and hook over the edges of part 4 so as to engage the longitudinal grooves 6, as seen in Fig. 5, and the slide has a hail end 11, see Fig. l, with a thin flat plate portion 12 inside and between the bail portion for a purpose to be described.

Looking at Fig. 1, it will be seen how the op eration of assembly begins. The part 1 is against the back of the pack; the prongs 2 and 3 pierce perforated holes in the pack and are preferably bent over as there shown. Then part ,4 is telescoped with prong 3 by sliding part 4 so as to have the, prong enter slot 9 and engage the underside of 4 in the plane of the grooves and protected by the grooves. The slide 1015 moved so that prong 3 passes between the bottom portion of the slide and part 4. In this position,

see Fig. 2, prong 3 is held, as in a sleeve. The tab '1 enters the hole where prong 3 pierces the paper pack and tends to hold the parts in telescoped position for the next operation.

From the position of Fig. 2 part 4 is swung toward. the pack pivoting on the hold that tab 7 has in the paper to keep it from sliding with I respect to prong 3. The same motion swings prong 3 toward the pack. Prong 2 is engaged by this movement so that it starts to bend down in opposed relation to prong 3, and both aremoving toward the same plane, namely, the plane of the paper. This movement of all parts is accomplished by merely pressing part 4 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3. .At or near the m5 latter position it is desirable to move slide '10 along part 4 so that as such slide is moved it engages prong 2 and moves it progressively intothe good contact with the under part of the compressor plate 4. The progress of assembling M0 movement as the bending takes place.

prong 2 with the compressor plate 4 is indicated in Fig. 3. It will be seen by comparison with Figs. land 2 thatwhereas prong 3 is assembled by a straight line movement, prong 2 is assembled by a bending movement in which its outer end is first brought into contact and the parts are brought into alignment by rolling'action of the prong 2 as it is bent to place. The slide 10, if moved so as to trap prong 2 at the beginning'of the rolling movement to place, and is then progressively moved to the left, the action of rolling or bending prong 2 into flat underlying relation to the compressor plate is helped. In any event it is desired to have slide 10 at the end opposite prong 3 when the parts are in final position and it is preferable to move slide 10 over from position shown in Fig. 2 before the parts are much beyond the position of Fig. 3, to avoid cramping.

From the position of Fig. 8 the compressor plate is simply pressed down as slide 10 is moved to its final end position shown in Fig. 4. Prong 2 is sprlngy enough to slightly resist the down When tab '1 enters the hole pierced by prong 2 and slide 10 is moved as far as it will go (prong 2 acts as a s p for the slide movement) then the bail 5 drops over the vertical (or inwardly tipped) shoulder formed by tab 7 or the end edge of part 4.ifatab'lisnotused. Ifthistab 'lisbentin at a little more than a right angle it will improve the hold of the parts. The slide 10 is purposely made in my preferred form so as to have enough play for the ball 5 to tip up and down. It first rides on top of the compressor plate but in final position it snaps over the end (the lefthand end in the form shown). This is brought about or helped by the fact that as the slide it is moved to the left. its forwardly moving edge acts against the under face of inclined prong 2 and this acts to tip the forward end of the slide downwardly, which action maps the plate piece 12 with its inner square edge into hugging contact with the vertical or tip-in face of tab 7. In this position the parts are retained or latched (see Fig. 4) with the spring action. of prong 2 tending to hold thexnin the latched position.

To loosen the fastener, the bail 5 is lifted or the compressor plate may be pushed down. with the finger; then with edge 12 out of the plane of the shoulder on top of tab 7, the slide is moved ;to the right (Fig. 4), prong 2 is released, plate 4 and prong 3 are together bent upwardly as in Fig. 2, and the plate with its slide disengaged from prong 8.

The three parts of the fastener are preferabw made of sheet metal which may be thin and light but strengthened by the channels along the lines indicated in Fig. 5. At the bottom of slide 10 it is desirable to provide a downwardly extending bulge as at 11. The principal function of this bulge 11 is to prevent the slide from tearing the paper in the event that-the operator presses plate 4 against the pack before he" "or plate 4.

.In the mosmcsnon 0'! Figs. 6 and '1 the parts are shown the same as in the other figures, except the slide. 18. The latter is made with an elevated bump 14 with the square edge to the same function as the square edge on plate within thebailofthefirstform. Theslide13is :n easier one to manufacture than the preferred orm.

mounting so that they can tip for the purpose already mentioned.

My fastener construction is particularly usefulin assembling the covering plate to cooperate with long prongs that overlap when laid against the paper. In suchuse the slide may fall to the bottom end of the compressor plate when the operator starts to thread it on the first prong. The operator needs to pay no particular attention to position the slide at the end because the slide is loose enough to fall in place. Then when the first prong is threaded on the plate it is naturally positioned between the bottom of the plate and also between the plate and the under strap of the slide. Unless this is done with long prongs the latter may start to overlap before the slide is in place to perform its function. For example, if the slide should be lapped underneath by one prong as the other prong starts to overlap the first one the slide would t function. Starting operations with the all e, at the starting end avoids this, because then the first prong must be threaded under the slide (as in Fig. 2) at the start. And the loose slide helps this desired way of operating the parts.

In the operation of my fastener it should be noted that I have constructed the parts ilor each prong to bend naturally to final position with out distortion and without bending over any.

sharp edges. 1

I claim:

i. A paper fastener of the spaced, prong including in combination a e covering piste for both prongs when bent into if at: position and for substantially their whole 1e said plate having a slot near one end to receive one paper piercing prong through the top side of the plate and into fiat overlapping relation with the underside of the plate for that prong to be covered without necessarily bending it in the assembly, a slide moimted on the plate to form a movable slot under the plate to receive the other prong'as it is bent to fastening position, said slide being movable to engage the second prong and strap it to the underside of the plate in flat overlapping relation as the covering plate and prongs are pressed into paper fastening position.

2. A paper fastener of the spaced prong type includingin combination a single covering plate for both prongs when bent into fastening position and for substantially their whole length, said plate'having a slot'near one end to receive one prong through the topside and into flat overlapping relation with the \mderside of the plate for that prong to'be covered without bending it, a slide mounted on the plate to form a movable. slot under the plate to receive the other prong as it is bent to fastening position. said slide being movable to ng e the second prong and strap it to the imderside of the plate in fiat overlapping relation as the covering plate and prongs are pressed into paper fastening position, said plate and slide having cooperating sec 1,esc,144

shoulders engageable at the end of the slide movement to latch the parts in paper fastening position.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a covering plate of a length to overlie two paper fastening prongs, a slide mounted on the plate with a strap movable with the slide under either covered prong, the plate having a slot at one end to receive one prong from the top for movement to underlying relation with the plate, said strap forming a second and movable slot to receive the second prong into underlying relation with the plate.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a covering plate of a length to overlie two paper fastening prongs, a slide mounted on the plate with a strap movable with the slide under either the slide to a position on the plate for latching the parts in place. 5. A device of the kind described comp a covering plate of a length to overlie two paper fastening prongs, a slide mounted on the plate with a strap movable with the slide under either covered prong, the plate having a slot at one end to receive one prong from the top for movement to underlying relation with the plate, said strap forming a second and movable slot to receive the second prong into underlying relation with the plate, the strap with the slide being movable to a pomtion on the plate for latching the parts in place and in such movement operable to cam the second prong into said underlying relation.

6. In a prong type paper fastener of the type described, the combination of a covering plate, a slide mounted thereon having a strap to form a movable slot with the underside of the plate through which a prong may be received at either A side and held to the plate until freed, said slide strap during such movement being adapted to engage the other prong and cause it to bend into paper fastening position and latch the parts in that position. v

7. In a prong type paper fastener of the type described, the combination of a covering plate having beaded edges, a slide engaged by said edges with a limited tipping movement, said slide having a strap forming with the underside of the plate a movable slot to receive a prong from either end of the plate, additional means at one end of the plate for threading a prong at that end in line with the movable slot and cooperating means in part on the slide and in part on the plate for latching the slide at the end of the slide opposite to said additional means when the slide is tipped for said parts to finally engage for paper fastening position.

' 8. In a paper fastener of the type described,

the combination of a covering plate having down-- wardly extending edges, a slide mounted on the plate for end to end movement, a downturned edge portion adjacent one end of the plate having a slot for straight line assembly of the plate with a prong to lie between its downtumed edges, a strap portion of the slide extending across said edges to overlie 9. prong positioned between the edges, and means to latch the slide in position at one end of the plate when in paper fastening position.

9. A paper fastener of the kind described including a plate for covering two prongs and having downwardly turned tabs at the ends to enter the prong holes of paper, downwardly turned longitudinal edges to cover the prong edges, a slide on the plate having a strap movable to underlie prongs covered by the plate, a bail portion for said slide adapted to drop into line with an end "edge of the plate and prevent sliding when in that position.

10. A paper fastener of the kind described including a plate for covering two prongs and having downwardly turned longitudinal edges to cover the prong edges, a slide on the plate having a strap movable to underlie prongs covered by the plate, a bail portion for saidv slide adapted to drop into line with an end edge of the plate and prevent sliding when in that position.

CHES'I'ER I. WAGNER. 

